For any other DR homies I decided to send an app to the IM prelim program I was dual-interviewing for so I could rank them just like the above post said.
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MD & DO co'21 Residency Panic thread
Started by kraskadva
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For any other DR homies I decided to send an app to the IM prelim program I was dual-interviewing for so I could rank them just like the above post said.
Good. I had a typo in my first post. If the place is not categorical you need to just send an app.
For anyone applying next year who’s reading this, I really wish I’d done this instead of applying to some of the prelims but not all. Then I could’ve only applied to prelims at places considering me.
Also take step two before the match for DR I just looked at the spreadsheet and it seems like almost everyone with a tbd for step is hurting for interviews.
also it is smarter to over apply.
also it is smarter to over apply.
Can personally confirm 2CK score not required for getting a bunch of interviews by now (N=1). On a population level, your advice seems sound. But each applicant should evaluate their own risk-benefit regarding an early Step 2.
Eras back up!
I don't know why so many people waited to take CK. With COVID and students pulled from rotations it seems like there was more time to study than ever before...anyone have specific reasons they waited? Idk I think if I was a program director I would definitely be more likely to interview people that have their ducks in a row than people whose applications are incomplete.
Thanks , I was just out here trying to feel better about my situation .
People weren't really waiting. Prometric just closed down so many sites and scheduling was a disaster for large portions of the US. I had mine cancelled twice but was able to finally take it at the end of August.
Yeah, a lot of people didn't really have a choice... I was supposed to take it end of April, ended up taking it in mid-June (on my first day off from my sub-i...). I was super burnt out from studying at that point so happy to have gotten it out of the way but definitely less than ideal, and I think my score showed that as well.
Oh ok I guess that is true for portions of the US. I personally had to reschedule twice due to cancellations but still ended up taking in early summer. My area was admittedly easier to get an appointment though.
This cycle is so unpredictable. I really hope you're able to secure some interviews and have a shot at your top choice(s)!
This is specialty-dependent. I know for DR, historically you didn't need a Step 2 CK before ROL time. And with an otherwise good application, taking it early poses a risk without any associated benefit. I know a few other classmates who have also delayed it, especially after the MSPE upload date was moved to October 21.
After church/temple/etc and Sunday brunch?
Temple was yesterday. Today’s a work day.
people with kids also probably had less time to study. i personally could barely even do the work required for online electives.
Can confirm studying with kids at home was a nightmare during the pandemic . You can’t go anywhere and the kids can’t go anywhere .
While pulled from rotations, it was super unclear when I would actually have a test center that could offer step 2. Then I had to complete my medicine clerkship (which started the day that 3rd year would normally be ending for us), and literally the first day after my medicine shelf, I started a sub-i. Did two months of busy sub-is where I wasn't able to study for step 2 at all. Essentially earliest I could have taken it with a 2 week dedicated would have been end of October. Since apps were out by then anyways, I decided to push to November and have a little less rushed studying.
Edit: also baby at home made studying at home about 1/4 normal efficiency.
Just got an II to my first TY, so programs are def reviewing today.
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How do the early interviews (i.e. before the programs review your app) work with this process, out of curiosity?
My core site interviews all auditioning students at the end of their audition so they don't have to come back.... which means there were a fair few August/September residency interviews. Do people in that boat just apply post-interview and get total radio silence until the match since the interview is already over, or do programs at least acknowledge you in some way? Jw.
My core site interviews all auditioning students at the end of their audition so they don't have to come back.... which means there were a fair few August/September residency interviews. Do people in that boat just apply post-interview and get total radio silence until the match since the interview is already over, or do programs at least acknowledge you in some way? Jw.
Pandemic stress, uncertainty about everything, prometric closures, timeline for return to rotations kept changing, date cancellations several times, school rules for test dates, didn’t finish M3, makeup COMATs not done, my mother died unexpectedly in July, went back right into an ICU sub-I and then others, without time to study, 2 puppies at home (not human kids but very needy and loud), Pandemic stress+Mom dying+studying was hurting my marriage, moved in with my best friend for 4 weeks just to take Step 1, already was taking Step 1 after M3 and under these conditions, had to take COMLEX Level 2-CE under these conditions, even had to delay my Level 2 to score release AFTER apps went out because I had a severe URI/cough for weeks and wouldn’t be allowed by Prometric to sit.
Do you need any more specific reasons?
Truly sorry to hear about your loss... wishing you the courage and strength to get through this interview cycle in the best way possible.
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AnatomyGrey12
I predict this week will be a big week for the invites. I wouldn't freak out if you see a place that you really wanted already send out some invites. 3 of my invites so far came from places that I had seen send out invites a day or two prior. Some places appear to actually be doing a good review of apps and then leaking them out instead of just screening for scores and blasting out hoards of invites.
I agree with you. Some of the earliest invites I got seemed like they just went after people based on pre-set factors instead of looking at who would actually be a good fit for their program. I think smaller programs wanted to get their name out sooner though because applicants are going to be overwhelmed with IIs this month. Does kinda put a bad taste in my mouth though, especially when it's obvious during the interview that they don't know anything about you other than your step scores and the names on your LORs. Just sorta pisses me off that nobody has asked ANYTHING about stuff on my ERAS application. Like, do you people know how hard we work on these to make them flawless?
Do you guys feel like top tier applicants are getting the majority of the invites? Several people were predicting this and anecdotally so far it seems to be somewhat true. At least from talking with a close circle of friends.
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AnatomyGrey12
In the specialty I'm applying that seems to be the case with the applicants I know and talk to, also coupled with a fairly heavy regional slant.
For EM I’m not noticing this So far. I have friends with 260s and have the same amount of invites as myself and other classmates with below average step scores. But lots of EM programs have not released IIs yet so this will maybe change.
The people who have been taking them in applied to a large number of programs . Sometimes there is yield protection, regional preference etc. it does make sense that people who applied to more programs are getting more invites .
Found out today from my PD that they received about 300-400 more applications than they normally do and offered twice as many interviews than normal. There is also a significant number on a WL for an interview.
This is a smaller community program too btw (FM)
This is a smaller community program too btw (FM)
I mean i applied to 95 and have 5 invites. The number applied to does not seem to rly matter right now. Most people getting invites right now have insane step scores.
Very interesting. Looks like I'm not going to turn down interviews once I hit my goal then 🙁
3rd year DO student here, so I'm sorry for being a little ignorant about this whole process, but do most/all programs ask for a secondary app after ERAS? Or is it specialty/program specific? Because I had the impression that ERAS was gonna be the only application I'd have to send in.
Almost unheard of before this year. Due to COVID/loss of auditions/concern for over application/etc, some programs are doing this. Seems more common in some specialties.
Unfortunately a COVID thing for most, a handful of programs had them available preERAS submission but most sent out postERAS (some seem to screen, some not so much)
Not too surprising. I figured the smaller programs would be hurt the worst by this as people try to get a ton of safeties regardless of how competitive they are. From what I've heard from academic places from our PD, it doesn't seem like they are increasing interview slots much if any.
I see. Well, that sucks! I'm hoping things get back to somewhat normal by next year.
Come onnnnnnnnnn big interview week! 
I got one “we’re excited about your app and you’re being considered for an invite soon” from a program that sent a bunch of rejections today so I guess that’s good.
^^ same doee 🙁
Im sitting on one and my sub I hasn’t sent out invites yet so I’m hopeful this week will be good.
That sucks. Go to the one of the program you like better.
Yea. I mean, I'm thankful for the interviews I am getting. But, had I known, I would've schedule one a different week.
I had this happen just email the one you have to miss and ask to attend a different social. The ones I have been to so far have been really informal and they didn't care at all.
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Well, I've been on 3 interviews so far (all at small community FM places) and each one stated they will interview the same number as any other year - typically 100. I also heard the same number of interviews will be conducted from my home PD. This makes me think your program is the outlier and that most programs don't want to deal with ranking twice as many students as previous years.
Regardless, it's clear that each program will handle this differently and I would suggest most students add 2-3 interviews to whatever they considered their "safe" number was pre-COVID
